Top 20 Builder Interview Questions

[@skipdigit]

This is excellent advice, thank you! Could you please consider doing a similar video for choosing an architect?

[@ZachAshcraft]

I'd love to see this as well!

[@Dawn-tv1bk]

Same

[@ymom11]

This is exactly what I was looking for.

[@jackjmaheriii]

Home owner or builder… This is a great video for both parties. I hope we get one for architects next!!!

[@Valgrind850]

As a developer these are a few extra ones that come to mind. 1. Average volume per year? 2. What is your subcontractor base like? What makes subcontractors give you the best price? How many bids for key trades do you get? 3. How old is your company? How long have your employees worked for you? 4. What does your Balance sheet look like?(tough question, really only needed for high budget projects, but it says a lot about a company if they are willing to share numbers)

[@user-yq2wc2ug8m]

Yeah, the more volume you do, the less the quality, so that's an issue.

[@gregh99]

References from projects done 10-15 years ago actually can be useful to reveal long-term building performance issues.

[@buildshow]

Great point. Hadn’t thought of that

[@mistygirl3995]

We did all these things and even hired a private detective to investigate our builder just to ultimately be ripped off. We called all the builder's references and visited the houses he stated he built and they were remarkably nice HOWEVER we did not speak to the people who lived there. The calls we made from the reference list were actually con-friends of the builders and of course, they gave glowing recommendations. Even after doing all the correct things, one can still be bilked.

[@buildshow]

Oh man. That’s terrible. I’m sorry to hear that.

[@Eric998765]

What's it like to live in a market where you have so many competitive options? I just moved to rural NY and there were exactly four custom home builders within a one hour drive. All of them were booked for minimum one year and all of them had a starting price of $250sqft regardless of how easy or complicated the build (yes, even a garage which is just a box with a concrete floor). One of them uses Zip sheathing the other three don't and they all build to just barely code (R24 fiberglass in the walls etc). I ended up finding a post-frame crew that has an opening in July. They will have my entire shell up in 7-10 days, and then I'm going to self-GC and do a lot of the work myself because I'm finding issues with local sub contractors too (emailed nine electricians and only one replied, which was a whopping $24,000 just for rough in). Between following you, Matt, for the last 3-4 years and seeing the serious need for more builders up here, I'm honestly thinking of becoming a home builder. If you check Zillow in this area pretty much every house under $400,000 is literally falling apart with missing drywall, siding, windows, etc and I can see why (though the property taxes up here don't help anything)

[@ToddBizCoach]

There ought to be a Home Building Advisor who: 1. Helps homeowner pick out a builder based on predetermined building practices 2. Monitors all subcontractors to make sure they are following agreed upon building practices for that home build 3. Coordinates scheduling of all subs

[@DeuceDeuceBravo]

I agree in theory, but #2 and #3 are the job of the GC.

[@ToddBizCoach]

@@DeuceDeuceBravo they are not the job of a Gen Contractor if you have a project manager coordinating all subs and no GC.

[@user-yq2wc2ug8m]

I can't imagine who'd be up for paying that guy much of anything. Certainly not the contractor. So who'd want the job?

[@robertdean9392]

Matt, been watching "The Build Show" since you started the channel. Have gotten alot of good information and have incorporated into our construction practices. The most important thing I've brought into my practices in construction. All subs have to clean up daily at end of day with no exceptions. I also have a rule that all subs have to follow. Absolutely NO ALCOHOL ON JOB SITE.. IF ALCOHOL FOUND ON SITE in building or dumpster, sub is terminated on the spot. All subs have to sign this prior to starting this site. 30 % penalty is subtracted from their payment at termination.

[@robbie9118]

Good info. Thanks for reminding me that this IS a job interview for them. Meeting with a builder tomorrow. Wish me luck.

[@AsHellBored]

Q2: how do you verify someone actually has the 30 years of experience? I worked for a guy that I was basically taking over for a that was 70 years old. So he probably had more than 30 years experience. And every property I went to I had to go 2 steps back to go 1 step forward. All the fixes were trash, for 30+ years. It doesnt mean crap.

[@travisstorbakken1737]

This can also be a check list for contractors to use for bettering their companies. Builing a home is not just building a home and getting a check. Its an experience. And its our job to make that experience wonderful.

[@vswrman]

Another question I would consider asking: How do you QA your work? Do you hire independent inspectors or simply rely on the city/county building inspector? Can I (as the customer) hire an independent inspector at one or more stages?

[@DeuceDeuceBravo]

One variation of your questions i would consider: "How do you communicate with a customer who brings you a bad idea?" (For example a trendy design item that will probably lead to issues down the road.) I'm still shocked every time you mention cardboard sheathing. I dont think ive ever seen that in the north, but maybe it's around. Amen on the clean job site. I've seen a lot of different sites over the decades and a clean, well organized site really is a great indicator of professionalism and work ethic.

[@buildshow]

Good point!

[@brucefay5126]

I would add a question about communication; how long does it take a builder to respond to a call from the client?

[@kriscloutier4537]

IT Pro looking to build in north texas! Felt like this was made for me! Thanks Matt, I really appriecate your detail and knowledge, Everytime I watch a video I go inspect my house and see how poorly it was built.

[@buildshow]

Glad to help!

[@chrisshick2335]

I spoke to a builder today who is a big fan of The Build Show and was actually wearing his Build Show hat. I'll be interviewing him next week. Thanks for the tips.

[@edwardlucero2120]

our home is being framed right now. today i just air sealed the foundation plate. (outside and inside) I also plan on using Siga Tape 4" 430 to connect the zip-system to foundation.

[@danmarshall5895]

Lots of PMBOK here. Good video.

[@MrRogsmart]

A good one. I can't speak to this covering every last detail, however a person who asks these questions and really listens to the answers will have no trouble selecting a quality builder.

[@candis9693]

Thank you for this excellent thinking skills questions.

[@iamblaineful]

As someone who has been building things my entire life, but it isn't my career, this show has helped me hone the "detailing" that you just don't learn without it being your profession. I'm building a small cabin on my 12ac play property in the CA Sierra Nevada mountains and it's really upped my game in terms of thinking about air, bug, and water management. I will build my final home on this property before I retire and a lot of the detailing is just not happening in my area yet. Simple things like Zip sheathing and tape are not stocked locally, and it's a 40min drive the wrong way to get to BFS, then having to double back with supplies is a bit frustrating. It tells me that my forever house built up there is gonna have to be well planned to have materials delivered from nearly 2hrs away. Home Depot is less than 30mins from my property but doesn't yet carry these basic things. Most builders up there are still doing OSB, house-wrap, unconditioned attics, etc. It's gonna be tough to work with a builder to get it how I want it for my retirement home on that property and the clock is ticking.

[@user-yq2wc2ug8m]

You need to forget about building a wood frame up there. There are fire resistant alternatives.

[@basembarakat]

Excellent set of question! Thanks Matt.

[@jezza6575]

Great info, thanks Matt!

[@michaelminasian4891]

The best video you've done! Exactly what I started trying to write myself!

[@maryellencubbon9284]

My son is going to do a major revision to his home.I know these questions will be handy!

[@MegsCarpentry-lovedogs]

Thank you for this........I took down Jakes questions and revised it for us common folks looking for a builder....Atlantic Canada is watching! Thank you Matt for this important topic. 🙏🇨🇦

[@ModernMountainLiving]

Yep, Most important question is Moisture Mitigation.

[@williammuse4594]

This is a great list (even if you skipped a number in the middle to pad the list at the end) and timing is great as I start shopping builders for my project. I would also add a question about expected cashflow of a project (regardless of pricing) - deposit requirements, frequency of billings / payments, and contingency holdbacks. Most of the time this will be consistent, but also a way to sniff out the companies that do not understand cashflow and could be more of a liability to the process. One more thing, I would appreciate a future video on your thoughts on hiring external inspectors who can work with the owner to review plans & inspect the build as it progresses. As local government inspectors are only looking for the bare legal minimum, it would be useful to have skilled inspectors review builds for the biggest potential issues like water & air flow management...

[@TRYtoHELPyou]

What a perfect video topic. Man you are killin it. I love the tips!

[@thebuildreview]

Great advice Matt.

[@bettymaverick1098]

Most builders would tell you to pound sand. To many BS questions for them. Not that they are bad questions.

[@raymondpeters9186]

If you don't want water damage build with a material that is not affected by water simple What is that material? Pumicecrete is by far the best building material on the planet Take care Ray

[@generatorlabs]

Matt, I would love to get an answer to this regarding selecting a builder or a compiling a list of subcontractors. It has to do with the choice of materials I typically see used. You love to step it up with the latest tech & products. If I ask a builder if they could use some of these advanced products they often will say "at a substantial premium". I am convinced that most builders are not comfortable with change and for this reason I see little of what you show used in practical applications in South Carolina. Are there ways that manufactures can sweeten the pot to make it attractive for subs to use these products? Are their subsidies, pilot programs or awards that can be granted to subs that would entice them and allow the product supplier to get more penetration in this market?

[@jdm_mike91_90]

great questions trying to build my first home

[@hexfarmer2599]

I saw a clip of you, Matt on an EV car channel. You did awesome.

[@SciaticaDrums]

I wish I could get you to build my dream home in NH!

[@ALLworldCONSTRUCTIONLLC]

Yes to the last question 😉 if I was gonna hire someone I’d ask how busy they are 💯

[@jamesburrows3711]

Thanks Matt. Great episode !!!

[@palaniappanmeiyappan1863]

In Austin, How do you find whether a resale home is made up of cardboard sheathing or not in exterior wall ? Awesome video @Matt Risinger. Much needed one.

[@user-yq2wc2ug8m]

Look up under the siding where it overlaps the foundation.

[@IAM0973D3]

Great information

[@austinheywood3255]

Hey Matt, I love watching your content! One question I have that goes along with this video is... How do you search out and find builders that are even remotely interested in keeping up with modern building techniques (building science)? I hope to build a house in a few years, but I live in Polk County, Missouri where there are no building permits. Most builders are still building homes like they would have in the 70's, and surprisingly, there is little thought/planning for water management. Are there keywords, or a searchable network of contractors that will help narrow down this search quickly?

[@gulabsamtani1603]

Always watch your show ❤❤. Good questions

[@buildshow]

I appreciate that!

[@TheJeof1000]

this is helpful, more of this type of videos...

[@walkerd73]

saved for furture refrence

[@dmorga1]

I certainly agree that these are very relevant questions, but I have a hard time believing that a successful builder would sit for them. It's hard to get busy contractors to do more than a quick visit and render their cost estimate. Even with something as consequential as building a home, I can see the best builders looking side-eyed at these "interviews" and just saying "look me and up and let me know when you're ready to talk about a contract." Some of these questions would lead to some cringey moments with a builder, I think, if they would sit for them at all.

[@user-yq2wc2ug8m]

If there was a potential client who insisted on this sort of grilling it would be a good way for me to weed them out.

[@Michael-vi1kn]

At what point of the hiring or shopping process do we ask these questions. Should I have all the plans ready and send out to perspective builders? Thanks Matt for this show. 😊

[@MichaelJ674]

I would recommend selecting a contractor as early in the process as possible-say, as soon as you have an approved schematic design and certainly before you start construction documents. With the complexity of modern construction, you are buying a service, not just a commodity. For all but the simplest homes, I would also recommend entering into a preconstruction services contract with your selected contractor, even if it’s for a relatively small amount. You will typically get much better and more accurate information about costing if your contractor is being compensated for their work. It will also result in fewer change orders during construction.

[@scottt.4596]

This was GREAT! Thanks

[@JamesSmith-wk7mr]

Question 22 Are you insured and bonded for states that require a bond. Will you provide me with a certificate of insurance before starting work. Also will you provide me with copies of all the subs.

[@peppy_pepper_player823]

Thanks Matt. good tips...

[@buildshow]

You bet! Appreciate the support

[@hi-ye4rz]

It really depends if a person hires a good architect to spec out the job....

[@palaniappanmeiyappan1863]

Are thermoply, thermobrace and dryline cardboard sheathing products?

[@edstiver]

Other common issues: 1. Poor communications. 2. Poor planning. 3. Definition of "Quality". 4. Misaligned incentives. 5. Vague contract terms.

[@brearlymason4903]

I’m curious, have you ever worked with, or interviewed an appraiser in order to identify items or home characteristics in a particular neighborhood that result in value?

[@syoutube4502]

I have.

[@MichaelJ674]

Or use a good, experienced realtor. That’s what I’m doing.

[@rickbabcock6397]

In my experience the grumpy ,meanest old carpenter is the best contractor.

[@CelineCarey]

@Matt Risinger Do you only build in Austin, or are you able to work all over Texas?

[@aldoogie824]

Builder and fan💪🏻🫶🏻, gonna add some of my own questions : #1. Are you licensed or certified (state dependent) #2. Are you insured , bonded , etc. what certifications do you hold. #3. What job are you most proud of and why? #4. How did you end becoming a builder? #5. What percentage of your business is self performed vs sub-contracted. #6. Are there trades that you personally love and those that you don’t care for as much. #7. Will you have time to work on my job; general sense for workload. #8. Are you proficient at reading plans. #9. Are there parts of the job that you Dont want to deal with that we should be aware of. (Great example is dealing with city permitting) #10. Did you subscribe and hit the like button ?

[@papr4upapr4u68]

Awesome !!!

[@buildshow]

Thanks!!

[@stacynichols1397]

I’m looking for a builder in the hill country in TX. Any recommendations for the Spring Branch area? Looking to start ASAP

[@HubstepCamaro]

Question 1: Do you watch the build show? Question 2: Is your name Matt? Question 3: Does your last name start with R?

[@halfpoundbobby]

This would definitely apply to me, and you do NOT want me contracting your build.

[@danielbuckner2167]

I have to disagree on fresh only references as its important to know the longevity of the work quality. So many builders only warranty a home for a single year which is nuts so the workmanship can reflect this and I think people should know what they can expect down the road for what is usually the most expensive purchase they have ever made.

[@guylambrechts2303]

I ask all builders I meet if they watch The Build Show and in Belgium it's pretty unknown. Shame as a lot of 'm out there could use it!

[@tsam9084]

Matt what are your thoughts on capping a garage door wood frame in aluminum?

[@kylelaw7210]

How many of you are finding builders that watch the building show?

[@waynehaff2625]

I would ask how contractor deals with payment of subcontractors and suppliers? Are waiver of liens supplied with payments? Also has contractor had Liens applied to his projects and how did he handle them.

[@dbrn79]

Can you recommend any builders in the north Georgia area

[@imtheonevanhalen1557]

Find out who the head of inspections is, invite him/her to a steak dinner.....viola!!......all of the local construction world is right there.

[@woodrowwilliams1812]

Is there a foreman who is on the job site each day or at least checks in with the subs at the job site at the start and towards the end of each day?

[@gandalf2950]

Starts at 2:07

[@Fedgery007]

Are you asking these questions over the phone, in person, email?!

[@lookup9078]

🛎️🙏

[@thinktoomuchb4028]

What magazines do you read!? There you go getting political again, Matt. ;) Great info. Thank you!

[@jsmith7346]

You skipped #13

[@keantoken6433]

And what if you can't find a single person who will sit through these questions?

[@michaelshettig7805]

Unlucky Q 13 didn't make the list. High rises.

[@peteyou2325]

If they ain't watching the build show they ain't getting hired.

[@JosiahK555]

question #1 Do you know who matt Risinger is? No? i guess you don't get on the internet much..

[@raymondpeters9186]

Pumicecrete is by far the best building material on the planet Pumicecrete is a mixture of pumice cement and water mixed and poured into a set of reusable forms walls are poured from 12"to 24" thick pumicecrete is fireproof termite proof rust rot and mold proof non toxic and has a high R value and good sound attenuation solid poured walls means no critters can live in your walls Pumicecrete can be built for a fraction of the cost and time and pumice is one of the few building materials that can go directly from the mine to the job site ready to use without any additional possessing and zero waste Google all the walls of my house are made of pumicecrete Take care Ray

[@DeuceDeuceBravo]

We get it, you love Pumicecrete 😄

[@user-yq2wc2ug8m]

If someone came at me with this list of questions I'd tell them to go somewhere else, heh, heh.

[@jerseycornboy]

I think there are some important questions but i wouldn't want to be interviewed like I was auditioning for Miss America pagent. I would ask did anyone ever sue your ass and why. And did anyone ever threaten to kill you before you completed their job.

[@user-yq2wc2ug8m]

I get all my work by word of mouth. It's a pretty simple formula.